Office of the Privacy Commissioner

Woman says Police unfairly disclosed information to her employer Charles Mabbett
2 November 2016 at 14:51

As a result of a complaint, Police began an investigation into a woman who worked at a district health board. The complaint alleged that she may have accessed DHB health records in order to locate children who had been the victims of crimes committed by her brother.

Human Rights Review Tribunal, health, law enforcement

Choose your referees wisely Richard Stephen
20 October 2016 at 10:06

Applying for a job can be a nerve-wracking ordeal and, more likely than not, it ends in disappointment. It can be devastating to miss out on that dream job and not knowing why you missed out can be incredibly frustrating.

IPP6 - access, employment

Why you won't get a legal "opinion" from Enquiries Karin Carter
11 October 2016 at 12:04

Callers to our Enquiries service often start with “I need some legal advice”. If the caller means guidance on his or her Privacy Act rights or the obligations of an agency, then we can help. But if by “legal advice” he or she means a legal “opinion” about how the Privacy Act might apply, then this is something our Enquiries service can’t do.

complaints, enquiries

ACC withheld information from chiropractor about investigation Charles Mabbett
4 October 2016 at 16:05

A chiropractor being investigated by ACC made numerous requests for information about the investigation. When ACC withheld some of the information, he complained to the Privacy Commissioner, and then took his case to the Human Rights Review Tribunal.

Human Rights Review Tribunal, health, ACC, IPP6 - access

How privacy regulators cooperate across borders Blair Stewart
17 August 2016 at 14:37

Privacy authorities typically perform regulatory and enforcement functions on their own - or occasionally with another public body - within their domestic jurisdiction. They know the domestic law they enforce. The law will clearly lay out the authority’s role and provide a clear pathway to the intended outcomes.

Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities (APPA), Global Privacy Assembly (GPA), International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), OECD, International

Parents' right to know: Children's right to privacy Charles Mabbett
8 July 2016 at 12:21

As parents, we expect to be told everything about our infants when we take them to the doctor. The same with our toddlers. By the time they get to their teens, it gets a little more complicated. Should parents have the right to know about all about their under 16-year-old’s healthcare?

children, health, Health Information Privacy Code

Health info: The right to know made easy Marilyn Andrew
31 May 2016 at 10:52

Mrs Patel was outraged. She’d visited her GP for a follow-up check after her hand surgery, and he’d asked her about her history of depression. She didn’t think she’d had anything of the sort, and decided to ask the receptionist for a copy of all her medical notes to see what else was in there. The young receptionist assured her that the doctor owned the notes so she couldn’t have them.

IPP6 - access, health, Health Information Privacy Code

Some direction on school directories Sam Grover
18 April 2016 at 00:00

If you’re not familiar with school directories, here’s how they work: at the beginning of a school year, some schools publish directories with contact details for each student and his/her parents. That directory is then distributed to each parent. Parents who need to contact one another how have a directory to aid them in doing so. Easy.

children, education

Woman says Police unfairly disclosed information to her employer Charles Mabbett 2 November 2016 at 14:51

Choose your referees wisely Richard Stephen 20 October 2016 at 10:06

Why you won't get a legal "opinion" from Enquiries Karin Carter 11 October 2016 at 12:04

ACC withheld information from chiropractor about investigation Charles Mabbett 4 October 2016 at 16:05

How privacy regulators cooperate across borders Blair Stewart 17 August 2016 at 14:37

Parents' right to know: Children's right to privacy Charles Mabbett 8 July 2016 at 12:21

Health info: The right to know made easy Marilyn Andrew 31 May 2016 at 10:52

Some direction on school directories Sam Grover 18 April 2016 at 00:00

Woman says Police unfairly disclosed information to her employer Charles Mabbett
2 November 2016 at 14:51

Choose your referees wisely Richard Stephen
20 October 2016 at 10:06

Why you won't get a legal "opinion" from Enquiries Karin Carter
11 October 2016 at 12:04

ACC withheld information from chiropractor about investigation Charles Mabbett
4 October 2016 at 16:05

How privacy regulators cooperate across borders Blair Stewart
17 August 2016 at 14:37

Parents' right to know: Children's right to privacy Charles Mabbett
8 July 2016 at 12:21

Health info: The right to know made easy Marilyn Andrew
31 May 2016 at 10:52

Some direction on school directories Sam Grover
18 April 2016 at 00:00